Gang-plank.



UNITE Srarns Patented July 14, 1903.

JoHN RILEY, on MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

Y eANe-PLANK.

SPECIFICATIGN forming part of Letters Patent No. 733,598, dated July 14,1903.

Application filed March 17, 1903.

T0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN RILEY, of Minneapolis, county of Hennepin,State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inGang-Planks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to devices used for loading and unloadingmerchandise, and the object of the invention is to provide a gangplankparticularly adapted for use around railroad depots or steamboat wharveswhich will automatically lock itself in position to prevent either endfrom becoming accidentally displaced or slipping off the car, platform,dray, or other support Whereon the plank may be placed and used duringthe loading or unloading operation.

The invention consists generally in various constructions andcombinations, all as hereinafter described, and particularly pointed outin the claims.

4In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification,Figure l is a plan View of the under side of a gang-plank embodying myinvention. Fig. 2 is a top vieW of the same. Fig. 3 is a section on theline .in fr; of Fig. 4, and Fig. i is a section on the line y 'y of Fig.3.

In the drawings, represents a plate forming the main portion of thegang-plank and composed in this case of metal; but Wood or any othersuitable material may be used, if preferred. I have shown the plateprovided with downwardly-turned edges and tapered ends for conveniencein handling freight thereon,and in case the plank is made of Wood itsends will be suitably ironed to brace and strengthen the same. Along theunder side of the plate, near the edges thereof, I provide Z-bars 3 and4, arranged in pairs and forming guides for T-shaped plate members5,that are slidable between the same.

6 is a bar loosely mounted in said plates 5 and adapted to slidetherewith and Whereto an angle-bar 6, having flanges 7 and S, issecured. The ilange S is Wider than the flange 7, so that When the plankis in position for use the Weight of the flange 8 will cause the bar toswing on its pivots and move the flange 7 toward the Z-bars. This lange7 has an edge 9, that is turned substantially at right Serial No.148,157. (No model.)

angles to the flange and adapted to enter notches 10 in the bars 4, andthereby lock the anglebar and the guide-plates 5 against furthermovement in either direction.

ll is an ang'le-bar secured to the plate 2, near one end thereof, andhaving one flange projecting substantially at right angles to said plateand forming a fixed stop to bear upon the bottom of the'car or the edgeof the platform or other support upon Which that end of the plank rests.The flanges 7 and S, forming the adjustable stop, are moved along in theguideways until the ilange 8 engages the support upon Which the otherend of the plate 2 is placed, and When in that position the edge 9 willenter the notches l0 at that point and lock the adjustable stop againstfurther movement. The freight-handlers can then move merchandise backland forth over the gang-plank from the car to the platform, or viceversa, Without danger of either end of the plank slipping off from thesupport on Which it is placed. In this Way damage to merchandise andinjury to the men handling thesame is avoided. The Z-bars, in additionto forming guidesfor the adjustable stop, also serve to brace andstrengthen the plate 2 and render it capable of sustaining the Weight ofheavy packages of merchandise that are moved back and forth over thesame. If desired, an intermediate bar may be placed on the-bottom of theplate 2 between the Z-bars, and in various other Ways the plate may bebraced and strengthened to adapt it for the various uses and to thesevere. strains to which it may be subjected. Y, p

I claim as my inventionl. The co1nbination,'With a plate, of aXed stopprovided near one end of the same and .adapted to engage the oor of acar or the edge of a platform or other support, and an adjustable stopprovidedon the under. side of said plate and arranged to engage thesupport on which the other end of said plate is placed. Y

The combination, with a plate, of a fixed stop provided on the underside thereof near one end, Z-bars arranged in vpairs and extendinglengthwise of said. plate on the un der side, plates slidably arrangedbetween said bars, said bars provided with a series of notches, and anadjustable stop carried by said plates and arranged to engage saidnotches.

3. A gang-plank, comprising a plate having a iiXed stop near one end onthe under side, Z-bars secured to the under side of said plate and nearthe edges thereof and arranged in pairs, plates slidably supportedbetween the bars of said pairs, a rod carried by said plates and anangle-bar mounted on said rod,

' one ange of said bar being wider than the other and the narrower angehaving a bent edge to enter said notches.

4. A gang-plank, comprising a plate having a iixed angle-bar stop nearone end on the under side, Z-bars arranged in pairs on the under side ofsaid plate and extending longitudinally thereof and bracing andstrengthening the same, said pairs of Z-bars forming guideways, and theinner bar of each pair provided with a series of notches and anadjustable stop supported byand slidable in said guideways and having'means for engaging said notches to lock said stop against movement ineither direction.

5. A gang-plank, comprising a metallic plate having a Xed stop near oneend on the under side, guideways provided on the under side of saidplate and extending length- Wise thereof, a stop slidably mounted insaid Ways, and means for locking said stop.

6. A gang-plank, comprising a metallic plate having a fixed stop nearone end on the under side, Z-barsarranged in pairs on the under side ofsaid plate and extending length- Wise thereof and forming guideways, andan angle-bar stop slidably mounted in said guide- Ways and arranged toautomatically engage notches provided in said Z-bars, for the purposespecified.

In Witness whereof l have hereunto set my hand this 13th day of March,1903.

JOHN RILEY.

In presence of- RICHARD PAUL, S. V. GRIFFIN.

